Behind the MVP-caliber play of junior standout Mac Barbara, the San Diego State softball team has captured a spot in this year’s NCAA tournament and is headed to the Los Angeles regional on the campus of UCLA.
This marks the third consecutive trip to the prestigious post-season tournament for the Aztecs and the second year in a row they’ll play in Easton Stadium.
The Aztecs earned their place in Friday’s regional by virtue of their 6-3 defeat of Bosie State in the championship game of the Mountain West Tournament.
MWC Co-Player of the Year Barbara went 2 for 3 at the plate with a run scored and 2 RBIs. Her stellar play throughout the MWC tournament led her to be named MVP of the tourney. The Aztecs first baseman was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Alyssa Garcia, Katie Goldberg and Allie Light.
Aztec pitching ace Light went 2-0 in the tournament allowing only one run in 7 and 2/3 innings pitched.
SDSU drew #15 Virginia Tech for its first regional game set for 3 p.m. on Friday. On the other side of the double-elimination bracket sits #6 UCLA and Grand Canyon.
In last year’s LA regional, the Aztecs advanced to their first-ever super regional by beating Liberty 7-0, Grand Canyon 6-0, and Liberty again 6-3 in the final. The path to another super regional appearance seems much more challenging this year, but SDSU (31-18) has the talent and the experience to match last year’s historic run.
On the season, Barbara led the way with a .383 batting average and a 1.277 OPS. The junior also led the team in hits, home runs, walks and RBIs. She will be the offensive catalyst the team looks to in these upcoming post-season games.
But she is not alone in providing offensive firepower for the Aztecs. Chula Vista native Garcia returned home for her final collegiate season this year and delivered a spectacular season. She finished second on the team in batting average, .325, slugging percentage, .444, and was third in RBIs.
The designated player/catcher returns this weekend to where she began her college career riding a six-game hitting streak, including the go ahead two-run home run late in the MW championship game.
A highly touted player out of Mater Dei High School, Garcia played four years for UCLA making back-to-back trips to the Women’s College World Series. The veteran knows what it takes to succeed at the highest levels and brings this earned confidence with her into this weekend’s NCAA tournament contests.
“Our tribe is excited to continue our journey into the postseason,” she told Sons of Montezuma earlier this week.
“We have had a lot of success these past couple of weeks which has fueled this team heading into the LA regional. I have no doubt about this team showing up with grit, fight, and ultimately playing for each other. We are excited to get another opportunity to show what Aztecs softball is about. Go TECS!”
SDSU’s game on Friday against Virgina Tech will begin at 3 p.m. and be broadcast on ESPNU.
A total of 64 teams with four teams participating at 16 regional sites in a double-elimination tournament make up the 64-team NCAA field. The regional winners move on to the super regional competition in a best-of-three series played May 23-26 at eight campus sites.
From there, the winning eight teams advance to the Women’s College World Series conducted May 30 – June 6/7 at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
Last year’s Aztecs squad won the first game in the Salt Lake City super regional before falling to the host Utah Utes in games two and three.
The road to a second consecutive super regional begins again in Los Angeles on Friday. Go Aztecs!
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